Supercharged Supercar Event: Vancouver Diamond Rally 2022
Every year, a group of glamorous luxury sports cars and supercars tear up the famous Sea to Sky Highway between Vancouver and Whistler, raising money for a great charity while doing so.
The prestigious event is known as the Diamond Rally.
History of the Diamond Rally
In 2012, Craig Stowe created an exclusive event for luxury sports car owners, known as the Diamond Rally. Drivers would purchase a ticket to enter the rally, with the money going towards a charity.
In the past, selected charities have included Make-A-Wish, Canuck Place Children’s Hospice, Dilawri Foundation, Washington Kids Foundation, Canadian Olympic Foundation, BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, and The David Foster Foundation.
The drivers would begin at a dealership in Vancouver, travel to Squamish, where they enjoyed showing off their cars and a short lunch break, and then on to Whistler as the final destination.
Diamond Rally 2022 Need-to-Know Details
This year, rather than bringing the supercars to Whistler, the Diamond Rally 2022 will be taking place in Victoria, BC, at the Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit.
Starting in Vancouver, and ending on Vancouver Island, the Diamond Rally is Canada’s premier luxury car event
The three-day event begins on Friday, May 20, and ends on Sunday, May 22. Money raised this year will go towards Make-A-Wish Canada.
Entry packages start at $950 for a solo driver, $1200 for a driver and navigator, and $1550 for corporate entries. Packages include a one-night stay at the Fairmont Empress Hotel as well as one ferry ticket from Tsawassen to Nanaimo. They do not include weekend hotel accommodation, dinner, or ferry return tickets.
Drivers will also receive two Diamond Rally 2022 car decals as well as a post-event participation certificate.
In order to qualify for the rally, drivers must be at least 21 years of age and must be driving a car to fit within a specific classification.
This year, eligible cars include:
- Ferrari
- Lamborghini
- McLaren
- Pagani
- Bugatti
- Koenigsegg
- Ford GT
- Rolls Royce
- Porche 911, 918, 718,981 GT4, Panamera Turbo, Cayenne Turbo, GTS, Taycan, and RUF
- Maybach
- Mercedes AMG 300SL, CL63, CLS Coupe, G550 Squared, G63, G65, GLS, GLE AMG GT, E63, AMG GT COUPE BLACK SERIES, GT 63, S560, S63, SL63, SL65, and SLR 723
- Acura NSX
- Aston Martin 2018 and newer
- Audi R8, RS7, RS6, RS5, RS E-TRON
- BMW M760LI, Alpina B7, XB7, I8, M4 GTS, MB Competition, Z4, Z8, 2021 Z4
- Range Rover Autobio, SVR 2015 or newer
- Bentley 2013 or newer
- Corvette ZR1, Z06, Z51, C8
- Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing and Lyriq
- Shelby Mustang
- Jaguar F-Type, E-Type
- Alfa Romeo 8C
- Lexus LFA, LS, LC
- Genesis GV80, G90
- Lotus Evora/Evija
- Maserati Gran Turismo 2015 and newer, Quattroporte 2015 or newer, Levante Trofeo V8
- Pininfarina Battista
- Rimac
- Rivian
- Karma
- Saleen
- Hummer H1
- Nissan GTR
- Tesla Model S and X P100D
- Viper
- Spyker
- Polestar 1 Hybrid
A Roundup of Diamond Rally 2022 Events
The Diamond Rally 2022 starts with a social launch at Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver on Friday, May 20.
On Saturday, May 21, the journey to Vancouver Island begins at TROVE in Richmond. The supercar gang will then drive to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal and catch the 10:15 ferry. From the Duke Point ferry terminal in Nanaimo, you’ll all then go 40 minutes to the Island Motorsport Circuit to enjoy lunch, photos, and a celebrity race with professional drivers. Finally, drive 60 minutes to Victoria, where you’ll check into the Fairmont Empress Hotel.
The next day, Sunday, May 22, is when the rally truly begins. Enjoy a morning drive with 200 luxury and supercars to Bear Mountain Resort for new car displays and lunch.
Luxury Sport and Supercar Tours in Whistler
There’s nothing like whipping down the gorgeous Sea to Sky Highway from Vancouver to Whistler during the summer.
If you don’t want to go to Victoria but do want to drive a supercar on the original Diamond Rally course, experience the rush by renting an exotic car.
Numerous supercar rentals allow you to drive their cars on the scenic highway. Companies we recommend include Scenic Rush, Sea to Sky Exotic, and Premium Whistler.Each company will have you select a luxury vehicle and treat it as your own for 24 hours or more. Once in Whistler, you can either travel further north to Pemberton or enjoy a day in the Village.
Whistler has plenty of luxurious activities and restaurants to enjoy, including golfing at the Whistler Golf Club, Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club, or Nicklaus North Golf Course.
Enjoy the Scandinave Spa or The Spa at the Nita Lake Lodge if you’re all about relaxation. Both are incredibly serene and will help you unwind after a day on the road.
In terms of restaurants, try Gordon Ramsay’s Whistler pick, Araxi, or the locals’ preferred fine-dining spot, 21 Steps.
There’s also plenty of shopping to be had around Whistler village, from big-named brands like Aritzia and Lululemon to little boutiques including The Beach and Bach & Co.
If you’re wanting to stay a couple of days, the best hotels in the city have to be the Fairmont Chateau, a luxurious 519-room resort located at the base of Blackcomb Mountain, The Four Seasons Resort and Spa, located in the heart of Whistler Village, Nita Lake Lodge, located near Creekside, or The Westin, which is not as prestigious as the former three, but still in a superb central location.
Best Time to Visit Whistler With a Supercar
While spring and fall are gorgeous times of the year, the best time to travel to Whistler with a supercar has to be in the summer.
Roads can get busy on summer weekends, so we suggest coming up on a weekday. The best part of driving a supercar is that you get to go fast and enjoy the highway – something that you won’t be able to do on a Saturday or Sunday.
Of course, you can always reach out to the team here at Forged if you have questions about what to do, when to come up, or simply want to schedule an extraordinary axe throwing session.